Geranium Marigold Response to Fish Waste Compost as Container Growth Medium Nitrogen
Subject:
HortScience
Abstract:
A fish waste/hemlock-fir sawdust compost (FWC) was evaluated as a container growth medium and N source for the greenhouse production of marigold {Tagetespatula'Queen Sophia')and geranium {Pelargoniumxhortorum'Spfmtet Scarlet') in 10-cm containers. Treatments were a factorial set of three Douglas-fir bark(B)/three FWC mixtures (100% FWC;50% FWC/50% B; 100% B)and three rates of N fertilizer (0,300and 600 ppm N) applied every 2weeks. After the initial irrigation,plants were drip-irrigated to negate leaching from the containers.Weekly measurements of leachate conductivity, pH, and inorganic N were made on additional replications of the 0-ppm N plants in all growing media. Plant height and width were measured at 2-week intervals and, at the end of the production cycle, flower number, shoot fresh and dry weight, visual quality, and root dry weight were measured. The growing medium by N interaction was significant for all variables. Results indicated that plants receiving 0ppm N in 100% FWC were larger and of higher quality than plants in 100% B receiving 600 ppm N. In 100% FWC, marigold shoot growth, dry weight, and quality were not influenced by N rate. The observed geranium and marigold growth response indicated that FWC was an effective N source and growing medium when leaching was minimized with drip irrigation.
Source: • HortScience Program Abstract Volume 32,#3
Keywords: PH Hemlock-fir sawdust compost Douglas-fir bark Drip-irrigated Inorganic N leachate conductivity
Libraries: Floriculture